Turf club plans go into overdrive in Ipswich

by jgould

Joel Gould
Journalist
Joel is a journalist with 20 years of experience and since February, 2011 he has been the late reporter at The Queensland Times. Joel specialises in longer features and as the late reporter he chases all the breaking stories that unfold in the evenings. A die hard rugby league fan, Joel has been pushing hard for the Western Corridor bid to be admitted into the NRL.

THE $14 million upgrade of the Ipswich Turf Club is one step closer to being realised after Racing Queensland's decision to fund an initial analysis and feasibility study of the project.

Ipswich Turf Club general manager Brett Kitching said the three-part project would see the Ipswich Greyhound Racing Club relocated to Bundamba to what would be a "world first" track.

The other elements of the project include the upgrade and maintenance of Ipswich Turf Club's thoroughbred track, and the club's commercial development.

That development involves the building of an access tunnel under the track and the relocation of race day and maintenance facilities to the infield to open up the land facing Brisbane Rd for commercial redevelopment.

The QT has been backing Ipswich Turf Club's request from funding and Racing Queensland has made several positive moves in the past months, culminating in the funding for the feasibility.

In September the club had a visit from Racing Queensland CEO Dr Elliot Forbes and thoroughbred board member Mark Sowerby.